Baby walker apparatus

ABSTRACT

A walker-apparatus includes a top-section, a bottom-section, a support-section, and a seat-section. In a preferred embodiment, the walker-apparatus may include a semi-circular shape. In another embodiment the walker-apparatus may include a circular-shape. The walker-apparatus is useful for providing a walker-apparatus for an infant which has an integral walking-platform such that the infant does not need to walk on a ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of baby walkers and more specifically relates to a baby walker with integral walking platform.

2. Description of Related Art

A baby walker is a device that can be used by infants who cannot walk on their own to move from one place to another. Modern baby walkers have a base made of hard plastic sitting on top of wheels and a suspended fabric seat with two leg holes. Infant support structures typically support an infant or child above a support surface, such as a floor or the ground. Some infant support structures include a seat that is configured to support a child so that the child can bounce while being supported by the seat. For example, a bouncer includes a frame that is configured to allow a child supported thereon to bounce relative to the support surface. However, the particular movement of the child on the structure and the resulting entertainment for the child is limited. Thus, a suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,575 to Paul Fair relates to a foldable infant activity center. The described foldable infant activity center includes a tray, a base and substantially-straight pylons. The tray has an infant-receiving opening. Each pylon has a lower portion which is directly or indirectly rotatably attached to the base and each pylon has an upper portion which is directly or indirectly rotatably attached to the tray enabling the tray and the base to be relatively rotated and folded from a use position to a storage position. Each of the pylons is substantially vertical when the tray and the base are in the use position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known baby walker art, the present disclosure provides a novel baby walker apparatus. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved baby walker with an integral walking platform.

A walker-apparatus is disclosed herein. The walker-apparatus includes a top-section relative to a floor-surface and may include a frame defining a substantially open-space. Additionally, the frame may have a first semi-circular shape, and the first semi-circular shape may include a first arcuate-edge and a first substantially straight-edge. Further, a bottom-section may be included parallel to the top-section and relative to the floor-surface, the bottom-section may include a second semi-circular shape, and the second semi-circular shape may include a second arcuate-edge and a second substantially straight-edge.

The walker-apparatus may additionally include a support-section which may include a vertical-length relative to the floor-surface, and may be attached to the first substantially straight-edge at a first point on the vertical-length and attached to the second substantially straight-edge at a second point on the vertical-length. The first point may be higher than the second point, and the support-section may be configured to support the top-section and the bottom-section and to keep them parallel to each other.

A seat-section may further be provided. The seat-section may include a first-end, a second-end opposite the first-end, and an opening therebetween, the first-end being attached to the support-section at a third point on the length, the second-end being attached to the frame at the first arcuate-edge, and the opening being configured to hold the human-user. Further, the seat-section may be configured to selectively move about the substantially open-space upon actuation by the human-user.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a baby walker apparatus, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front-side perspective view of the walker-apparatus during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front-side and rear-side perspective view of the walker-apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is various perspective views of the walker-apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front and top perspective view of the walker-apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side-top perspective view of the walker-apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to baby walkers and more particularly to a baby walker apparatus as used to provide a baby walker with an integral walking platform.

Generally, the baby walker apparatus may include a seat which may move around, or side to side within a stationary activity centre. The baby walker apparatus may include a half-moon version allowing a child to move within in a half circle so that the child can move around within the walker. The child's feet may touch a bottom of the activity centre, not the ground. The baby walker apparatus may be collapsible via adjustable bracket.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5, various views of a walker-apparatus 100.

FIG. 1 shows a walker-apparatus 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As Illustrated, the walker-apparatus 100 may include a top-section 110, a bottom-section 120, a support-section 130 and a seat-section 140. In this embodiment, the human-user 10 is shown to be a baby. However, it should be appreciated that the human-user 10 may be an adult-user, an elderly-user, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2 showing a front-side and rear-side perspective view of the walker-apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the top-section 110 may be located relative to the floor-surface 5, and the bottom-section 120 may be parallel to the top-section 110 and relative to the floor-surface 5. In a preferred embodiment, the top-section 110 may include a frame 112 defining a substantially open-space 114. The frame 112 having a first semi-circular shape 116, and the first semi-circular shape 116 may include a first arcuate-edge 117 and a first substantially straight-edge 118.

Further, the bottom-section 120 may also include a second semi-circular shape 122, and the second semi-circular shape 122 may include a second arcuate-edge 124 and a second substantially straight-edge 126. In addition, the bottom-section 120 may include a top-surface and a bottom-surface relative to the floor-surface 5. The top-surface may be configured to receive a foot of the user 10 to allow the seat-section 140 to move through the open-space 114 of the top-section 110, and the bottom-surface may be configured to rest upon the floor-surface 5.

As shown, the support-section 130 may attach the top-section 110 and the bottom-section 120 and the support-section 130 may be configured to support the top-section 110 and the bottom-section 120 and to keep them parallel to each other. The support-section 130 may include a vertical-length 132 relative to the floor-surface 5. Further, as illustrated, the support-section 130 may be attached to the first substantially straight-edge 118 at a first point on the vertical-length 132 and attached to the second substantially straight-edge 126 at a second point on the vertical-length 132. As shown, the first point may be higher than the second point, and the support-section 130 may be configured to support the top-section 110 and the bottom-section 120 and to keep them parallel to each other. In some embodiments, the walker-apparatus 100 may include a plurality of support-sections 130. In other embodiments, the walker-apparatus may be attached to the top-section 110 and the bottom-section 120 at different points (rather than at the first substantially straight-edge 118 and the second substantially straight-edge 126). In other embodiments still, the support-section 130 may be absent from the walker-apparatus 100.

The seat-section 140 may be located within the substantially-open space 114 of the top-section 110. The seat-section 140 may include a first-end 142, a second-end 144 opposite the first-end 142, and an opening 146 therebetween. The opening 146 may be configured to hold the human-user 10 (FIG. 1), and the seat-section 140 may further be configured to selectively move about the substantially open-space 114 of the top-section 110 upon actuation by the human-user 10. As above, the top-surface may be configured to receive the foot of the human-user 10. In this embodiment, the actuation may be the human-user 10 walking on the top-surface of the bottom-section 120. In one embodiment, the walker-apparatus 100 may include more than one seat-section 140 to accommodate more than one human-user 10 (not shown).

As illustrated, the first-end 142 may be attached to the support-section 130 at a third point on the length, and the second-end 144 may be attached to the frame 112 at the first arcuate-edge 117. The second-end 144 of the seat-section 140 may include a third arcuate-edge 154. Further, the first arcuate-edge 117 of the top-section 110 may include an inner-surface and an outer-surface, and the inner-surface may include a seat-section track 156 configured to receive the third arcuate-edge 154 and aid in movement of the seat-section 140 through the open-space 114.

In a preferred embodiment, the walker-apparatus 100 may further include a support-rail 151 located between the top-portion and the bottom-portion at the first arcuate-edge 117, and the second arcuate-edge 124, respectively. The support-rail 151 may be collapsible such that the top-portion may be collapsed into the bottom-portion for compact storage. Further, the support-rail 151 may include a plurality of adjustable-brackets 152. The adjustable-brackets 152 may allow a carer-user to lower the top-section 110 to accommodate different sizes of the human-user 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3 showing various views of the walker-apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the seat-section 140 may include the first-end 142, the second-end 144 opposite the first-end 142, and the opening 146 therebetween. As shown, the opening 146 may include a moveable-member 148 around its perimeter configured to allow 360° movement within the seat-section 140. In this embodiment, the human-user 10 may be able to turn 360° within the seat-section 140, and also move the seat-section 140 within the substantially open-space 114.

As above, the first-end 142 may be attached to the support-section 130 at the third point on the length, and the second-end 144 may be attached to the frame 112 at the first arcuate-edge 117 (FIG. 2). As shown, the third point may include a plurality of height-adjustable rings 153, and the first-end 142 of the seat-section 140 may include a circular-attachment 158 configured to attach to one of the plurality of height-adjustable rings 153. In this embodiment, the height-adjustable rings 153 may be configured to allow the carer-user to lower the top-section 110 to accommodate the human-user 10 (FIG. 1), along with the adjustable-brackets 152 (FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective and a top perspective view of the walker-apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, this figure shows the walker-apparatus 100 according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.

In this embodiment, the walker-apparatus 100 may include the top-section 110 relative to the floor-surface 5. As above, the top-section 110 may include the frame 112 defining the substantially open-space 114. In this embodiment, the frame 112 may have a first circular-shape 111, and the first circular shape may include a first circumferential-edge 113 and a first central-axis 115. Further, the bottom-section 120 may be included and parallel to the top-section 110 and relative to the floor-surface 5, the bottom-section 120 including a second circular-shape 123, and the second circular-shape 123 may include a second circumferential-edge 127 and a second central-axis 128. In addition, the bottom-section 120 may include the top-surface and the bottom-surface relative to the floor-surface 5. The top-surface may be configured to receive a foot of the user and the bottom-surface may be configured to rest upon the floor-surface 5. In one embodiment, the top-section 110 may include a table-surface configured to hold toys for use by the human-user 10.

As shown, the support-section 130 may include a vertical-axis 133 relative to the floor-surface 5, the support-section 130 being located at the first central-axis 115 and the second central-axis 128 such that the first central-axis 115, the second central-axis 128 and the vertical-axis 133 are co-axial. Further, as illustrated, the support-section 130 may be configured to support the top-section 110 and the bottom-section 120 and to keep them parallel to each other. The support-section 130 may include the plurality of height-adjustable rings 153, and the first-end 142 of the seat-section 140 include a circular-attachment configured to attach to one of the plurality of height-adjustable rings 153.

The seat-section 140 may be located within the substantially-open space 114 of the top-section 110. Additionally, the seat-section 140 may include the first-end 142, the second-end 144 opposite the first-end 142, and the opening 146 therebetween. Further, the seat-section 140 may include the moveable-member 148 configured to allow for 360° movement as above. As shown, the first-end 142 may be attached to the support-section 130, and the second-end 144 may be attached to the frame 112 at the first circumferential-edge 133. As above, the opening 146 may be configured to hold the human-user 10, and the seat-section 140 may be configured to selectively move about the substantially open-space 114 upon actuation by the human-user 10. Further, the second-end 144 of the seat-section 140 may include an arcuate-edge configured to conform to a shape of the first circumferential-edge 113. The first circumferential-edge 113 may include the inner-surface and the outer-surface, and as above, the inner-surface 155 may include a seat-section track 156 configured to receive the arcuate-edge and aid in movement of the seat-section 140 through the open-space 114.

As illustrated, the walker-apparatus 100 may further include the support-rail 151 located between the first-portion and the second-portion at the first circumferential-edge, and the second circumferential-edge 127, respectively. As above, the support-rail 151 may be collapsible, and may include the plurality of adjustable brackets 152.

FIG. 5 shows a side-front perspective view of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, this figure shows the walker-apparatus 100 according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown here, the support-section 130 may be absent and may include the support-rail 151. As illustrated in this embodiment, a table-section 139 may be provided and the first-end 142 of the seat-section 140 may be attached to the table-section 139. In this embodiment, the table-section 139 may not pivot, and the seat-section 140 may be configured to slide through the substantially-open space 114. Further, in some embodiments, the table-section 139 may be configured to hold toys for use by the human-user 10. In addition to this, the walker-apparatus 100 may be completely collapsible via the support-rail 151.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A walker-apparatus for use by a human-user on a floor-surface, the walker apparatus comprising: a top-section relative to the floor-surface, the top-section including a frame defining a substantially open-space, the frame having a first semi-circular shape, and wherein the first semi-circular shape includes a first arcuate-edge and a first substantially straight-edge; a bottom-section parallel to the top-section and relative to the floor-surface, the bottom-section including a second semi-circular shape, and wherein the second semi-circular shape includes a second arcuate-edge and a second substantially straight-edge; a support-section attaching the top-section and the bottom-section, the support-section being configured to support the top-section and the bottom-section and to keep them parallel to each other; and a seat-section located within the substantially-open space of the top-section, the seat-section including an opening being configured to hold the human-user, and wherein the seat-section is configured to selectively move about the substantially open-space upon actuation by the human-user.
 2. The walker-apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support-rail located between the top-section and the bottom-section at the first arcuate-edge, and the second arcuate-edge, respectively.
 3. The walker-apparatus of claim 2, wherein the support-rail is collapsible.
 4. The walker-apparatus of claim 3, wherein the support-rail includes a plurality of adjustable-brackets.
 5. The walker-apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third point includes a plurality of height-adjustable rings.
 6. The walker-apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first-end of the seat-section includes a circular-attachment configured to attach to one of the plurality of height-adjustable rings.
 7. The walker-apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second-end of the seat-section includes a third arcuate-edge.
 8. The walker-apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first arcuate-edge includes an inner-surface and an outer-surface.
 9. The walker-apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inner-surface includes a seat-section track configured to receive the third arcuate-edge and aid in movement of the seat-section through the open-space.
 10. The walker-apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom-section includes a top-surface and a bottom-surface relative to the floor-surface; and wherein the top-surface is configured to receive a leg of the user; and wherein the bottom-surface is configured to rest upon the floor-surface.
 11. A walker-apparatus for use by a human-user on a floor-surface, the walker apparatus comprising: a top-section relative to the floor-surface, the top-section including a frame defining a substantially open-space, the frame having a first circular-shape, and wherein the first circular shape includes a first circumferential-edge and a first central-axis; a bottom-section parallel to the top-section and relative to the floor-surface, the bottom-section including a second circular-shape, the second circular-shape including a second circumferential-edge and a second central-axis; a support-section including a vertical-axis relative to the floor-surface, the support-section being located at the first central-axis and the second central-axis such that the first central-axis, the second central-axis and the vertical-axis are co-axial, and wherein the support-section is configured to support the top-section and the bottom-section and to keep them parallel to each other; and a seat-section located within the substantially-open space of the top-section, the seat-section including an opening being configured to hold the human-user, and wherein the seat-section is configured to selectively move about the substantially open-space upon actuation by the human-user.
 12. The walker-apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a support-rail located between the first-portion and the second-portion at the first circumferential-edge, and the second circumferential-edge, respectively.
 13. The walker-apparatus of claim 12, wherein the support-rail is collapsible.
 14. The walker-apparatus of claim 13, wherein the support-rail includes a plurality of adjustable-brackets.
 15. The walker-apparatus of claim 11, wherein the support-section includes a plurality of height-adjustable rings.
 16. The walker-apparatus of claim 15, wherein a first-end of the seat-section includes a circular-attachment configured to attach to one of the plurality of height-adjustable rings.
 17. The walker-apparatus of claim 11, wherein a second-end of the seat-section includes an arcuate-edge configured to conform to a shape of the first circumferential-edge.
 18. The walker-apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first circumferential-edge includes an inner-surface and an outer-surface.
 19. The walker-apparatus of claim 18, wherein the inner-surface includes a seat-section track configured to receive the arcuate-edge and aid in movement of the seat-section through the open-space.
 20. The walker-apparatus of claim 11, wherein the bottom-section includes a top-surface and a bottom-surface relative to the floor-surface; and wherein the top-surface is configured to receive a leg of the user; and wherein the bottom-surface is configured to rest upon the floor-surface. 